❖ Video (Whole Worship Service) ❖ Audio (Message) Why We Stay Connected to Other People Romans 15:14-21 Mari Ikeda We are back in Romans today after a long time. But actually we are finally approaching to the end of Romans. The text today, 15:14-21, is also the initial part of the closing dedication.  　I gave my message today the title, “Why we stay connected to other people.” Because we can learn through the text today how active person Paul was in staying connected to others. However, it doesn’t mean that the text is pushing us to stay connected with others.   Or are you a type of person who enjoys being…

❖ Video ❖ Audio This Treasure, in Jars of Clay 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Guest Speaker: Yuko Honjo (Pastor, The UCCJ Osaka church) 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for…

❖ Video ❖ Audio What It Means To Forgive Psalm 61:1-9 Yasunobu Ishimaru(The UCCJ Pastor / Joshigakuin School Teacher) Thank you for inviting me to the worship service of Your Church.  I heard that you have been hearing the messages from the Bible focusing on the subject of peace this August.  We all, indeed, need peace.。 It’s important for us to pay attention with love to various events happening in the world to seek peace. However, it is also necessary at the same time for us to spend time to reflect on ourselves who are living in this world.  Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” He calls us  “peacemakers.”  Peace…

❖ Video ❖ Audio War and Peace [Anniversary of the end of World War II] Mari Ikeda It will be the 77th anniversary of the end of WWII tomorrow. As I said last week, I think many of us are forced to think about war and peace more than we do usually in August, because of the war in Ukraine since last February. Thus, I’d like to focus on war and peace in this message today, leaving from the series of Romans. Let’s start with the Book of Isaiah, chapter 9. A. Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9) 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;…

❖ Video ❖ Audio The Peace and Hope That Comes From Accepting One Another Romans 15:1-13 Mari Ikeda We are now in August. Every year, this is the time for Japanese to remember the mistake of going to war, but I suppose many people have a special feeling this year because we have learnt so well since the war started in Ukraine last February, how difficult it is to end the war, and how fragile the peace is. Also, it was a memorial day for Hiroshima yesterday, and for Nagasaki it will be the day after tomorrow. Although Japan is the only country to have been bombed with atomic weapons,…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Correctness Is Sometimes Wrong Romans 14:13-23 Mari Ikeda Today we’re going to read the second half of the chapter 14 of Romans. Following the first half of the chapter we read last time, the problem of different opinions in the church on what to eat and what not to eat as believers continues to be discussed here, but the point of emphasis is different today from last time. Let’s start reading, first from v.13-16. 1. We need to know our correctness can sometimes hurt others (13-16) 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling…

❖ Video ❖ Audio ד (Daleth)： The Law as Our Way Series: Finding the Gospel in Psalm 119ーA Hymn to the Law　4/22 Psalm 119:25-32 Andy Nagahara The fourth in the series of Psalm 119, called Hymn to the Law, contains the fourth paragraph, verses 25-32, with the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, dalet, placed at the beginning of each line. Although there is another theory, Daret is said to derive from the letter depicting a door (Hebrew: דללת delet).　　 In today’s passage, you may have noticed the repeated use of the expression way (Way, Path). Way is a frequently used expression in the New Testament.　For example, Jesus himself introduced…

❖ Video ❖ Audio We Must Not Control Other People’s Faith Romans 14:1-12 Mari Ikeda      From today we are going into chapter 14 of the book of Romans. Today, we’ll read 14:1-12, which tells us, “We must not control other people’s faith,” as the title says. As usual, let’s read a little at a time. Let’s start with v.1-3  A. Faith is the one-on-one relationship between God and each person 1. Are there people of weak faith and those of strong faith? (1-3) 1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose…

❖ Video ❖ Audio ג (Gimel)： Essentials for Strangers Series: Finding the Gospel in Psalm 119ーA Hymn to the Law　3/22 Psalm 119:17-24 Andy Nagahara In this third sermon in our series on Psalm 119, which we have characterized as a “hymn to the law”, we will be focusing on the third paragraph that starts with “gimel” the third letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Gimel comes from the Hebrew word gamal, from which some theorize that we get the English word, “camel.” 　Today is election day for the Upper House in Japan. Has the terrifying event from this past week impacted your vote? This should not be the case. The fact…

❖ Video ❖ Audio Guidelines for Life (Summary of Romans Chapter 12 and 13) Romans 13:8-14 Mari Ikeda      Today, we are going to read the book of Romans 13:8-14. This section is a summary of chapter 12 and 13, summering guidelines for life, how we should live our life. Let’s read from v.8-10 first.  A. Paul’s intention (Romans 13:1-7) 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are…